So, let me begin by saying:
Here's some irony for you...
For years, I've struggled to properly explain what I do for work. Funny, right? The gal that has spent the last 15+ years of her life helping professionals with their personal brands, job searches, and career planning doesn't know what to label herself. Saying I'm a "career coach" has never seemed to properly convey the job. I feel that title makes light of the important work myself and my Work It Daily teammates do every day. And, I feel the term "career counselor" really speaks to those folks you find at high schools and colleges. But recently, a conversation about the evolution of Work It Daily provided me with a big ah-ha moment. Ever since that, I've wanted to post the following...
"My name is J.T. and I'm a Career Therapist." (Finally! I said it.)
I've known for a long time this is really my job. Each day, myself and a team of trained career support specialists give people a trusted, secure, and private place to talk honestly about their careers. This is no small thing. As humans, our identities, and subsequently, our happiness are tightly tied to what we do for work. When you spend 40+ hours each week doing a job, it can't help but define you and impact your ability to feel successful and satisfied in life. So, while I'm not a doctor (and I don't play one on TV), I am a career therapist. And, I'm no longer ashamed to say it. Why would I be ashamed? Glad you asked!
Because getting career support is still seen as "taboo".
When I decided to leave corporate America to become a career coach, my friends and colleagues thought I'd lost my mind. One former college classmate asked me if I was going to become some sort of new-age-hoohey-type (his words, not mine). I lost the respect of some people who thought I was throwing away a perfectly good career track (six-figure female HR executive), to do something weird. To them, people who used career coaches were "broken" and "unemployable." But over the years, these same people circled back, many of them asking to chat with me about their own career challenges. Still, those early years of criticism from my peers gave me doubts.
But, fast forward to today and here's what I know...
School teaches us a lot of things, but learning how to identify and pursue a meaningful career throughout our lifetime is not one of them. With more than 70 percent of the working population feeling disengaged and dissatisfied with their career success, we have an epidemic of professional happiness going on right now. And sadly, people don't seek the help they need. Even though we use trained professionals to fix all sorts of problems in our lives i.e. doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants, physical therapists, etc. we still naively think we should be able to figure out our career problems on our own. The good news is, I think the thousands of people who have become members of Work It Daily in the last year would tell you: getting a little career therapy isn't a sign of weakness, it's a path to greatness. We refer to them as #WIDwarriors, and they're changing the world, one dream job at a time.
So, to the millions of people sitting in silent disgust and desperation with their careers and failing to get the help they need (you might be one of them?), I say:

Let's face it: job search can be challenging, and staying motivated during a FRUSTRATING job search can seem impossible sometimes. However, it's critical that you stay positive. Otherwise, you risk falling into a downward spiral, which will only make things worse.
(Psst! Can’t get hired? Watch this free tutorial.)
So, how can you get past your job search struggles? Here are some tips for staying motivated during a frustrating job search:

You’re happy at your job, but you want to take it to the next level. You’re ready for more responsibility and a fatter paycheck. Are you ready to get a promotion in 2017?
(Psst! Can’t get hired? Watch this free tutorial.)
According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, 30% of workers are hoping to get a raise or promotion this year. If you want to get a promotion in 2017, you need to brand yourself accordingly. Think about your key skill sets and character traits. What will you need to leverage if you were to get a higher-level role within your company? What do you need to prove to your boss in order to make that dream promotion a reality?
If you want to get a promotion in 2017, have a chat with your boss and set clear expectations for yourself. What do you need to do in his or her eyes in order to earn more responsibility and a higher salary?
In addition to that, there are some other key areas you should start focusing on. If you want to set yourself up for a promotion, you need to start branding yourself as...

Do you know how to make a successful career transition, this post will tell you how.

In the summer of 2005, I realized my 23 year career in broadcast media, radio, was about to change dramatically. I could feel the winds of change blowing in my “corporate culture.” Internal changes started to happen yearly (sometimes twice a year) with regard to sales commissions, and how we packaged and sold our products and services. New management was brought in, people shifted in a very stable management structure.
It just felt weird.
I started my personal career transition process, in my head, simply by thinking about why I was feeling like it wasn’t working for me on many levels anymore and I wanted and needed it to be working.
First, I had to honestly assess if there were any more mobility opportunities where I was. Then, I had to look at myself with regard to what I really wanted to do, and determine if I was qualified and prepared to do it. I spent almost a year, going on interviews, both locally and nationally, exploring other industries and employment jobs to try to see what resonated with me.
As I look back, it was really a smart process and revealed a lot about me. Back then, jobs were much more plentiful and there were a lot of them in my business. Today, I would not have those same choices and options.

5 Tips For Making A Successful Career Transition

Here are some of the lessons I learned about the career transition process that you can apply to today’s employment situation:

1. Identify What You Want To Do And What You're Qualified To Do

2. Don’t Rush Change, Trust Your Process

Opportunities will present themselves, but they may not be all the right or best decisions to make. Qualify the opportunities, based on your situation.

3. Be Prepared And Honest When Presenting Yourself

You really can’t fudge the truth when creating a resume. Know what your strong assets are and lead with them. Don’t hide your liabilities, but don’t lead with them. We all have “stuff” or else we wouldn’t be human.

4. Evaluate Your Current Skill Levels

The business world has changed and what’s now required to get hired has changed. Review your personal, professional, technology, and social networking proficiency. If you need to upgrade some things, take some local courses through local chambers, schools, professional organizations, or online.

5. Know That Personal Branding And Your Image Sets You Apart

Personality, mindset, energy, attitude, image are all important today to stand out and get noticed. Again, evaluate where you are with regard to your professional image, online and offline networking, sales, communication skills, and being a part of your community. Upgrade, improve, tweak, grow whenever and wherever you can.
Don’t wait until you are out of work or laid off. If we have learned one huge lesson from the current employment scenario, it’s pay attention to and keep changing with change.
In conclusion, career transition is happening all the time, even when you are working and employed. Keep moving and changing. Keep adding value for what you do. Stay relevant and current. Think about how you can become more indispensable!